😈
[Danskie Montpellier]
Going to Thoralid's unit is like walking home. My memories here for two years are still here, freshly flashing back not when Thorie and i had an argurment.
Nahh, i remember that thing again. Bryle—yung pasimuno't ugat— is really a stink mutt.
We four —yeah Lowie is with us (which i hate it) are now standing unfront of my former door. Nagtutulakan pa kami kung sino ang kakatok. Animo mapapaso kapag nadampian ng kamay mo ang pinto.
We actually don't use doorbell when visiting condos of each other. Merob kasi kaming secret knock to make sure it's us or ally.
Iba din kasi mga kalaban ni Dad. May kaaway din naman kami like that of Bryle and others na 'wala namang alam' but we'd better make sure.
"Let me" bulong ko sa kanilang tatlong tanga. Pumagitna sila sa'kin. Sinadya kong ilikod si Lowie.
I counted down first of course. I don't know why. Basta ang alam ko lang eh baka nagwawala na si Thorie dun kasi ganun naman siya pag masyadong nalukungkot.
"Three, two, wa—" hindi ko na natuloy ang pagkatok dahil biglang nagbukas ang pinto.
A man—lawyer or attorney— showed up infront of us. Ahy,,, correction,, kami pala ang nasa harap niya.
Kumurap kurap ang mga mata namin. Pamilyar ang mukha niya,, maybe a Dad's kasamahan, basta i saw him minsan kapag nagpapaparty si Dad sa isla. Lagi siyang imbitado. Aha! I know you na!
"Mr. Blankche, you're here?" usal ko when i recognized who he was. Bastos na kung bastos ang pamamaraan ng bati kong yun wala akong paki.
His part on the mafia, he's the one who is incharge in the drug dealings ang transactions here inside Veracruz and sa kabilang bayan.
Bat ka naman andito?
Don't tell me binentahan mo ng tone-toneladang droga si Thorie?!
"Drayren's daughter, Danskie! I didn't expect you here. I wish to stay but i'm in a hurry. By the way send my regards to him since magiging busy siya these days" wika nito. Tinaasan ko lang siya ng kilay when he patted my head like a dog. Urgh. I hate that.
Pinanood namun siya paalis sa pasilyo. Pinanood namin siya animo maganda ang likod niya. Psh. Regards? Close na close ba kayo ni dad?
Nagkumaripas kaming pumasok para makita si Thoralid. Malay ba naming nagbigti siya. Hahaha. O baka kinain niya lahat ng shabu?
We halted at one place when we saw him sitting at the couch. Hindi siya patay o bangag. Wala ring kahina-hinalang droga sa loob ng unit.
I roamed my eyes around. The room's design isn't changed since i left. Ba't ganun? Luminis lang ng sobra tong bahay na'to kung kelan ako umalis?
"We're here without telling you because we know you're not okay. So we're here to—" -Lowie
Thoralid shushed Lowie from talking. Yan. Daldal mo kasi. "You don't need to. Look at me, i'm still alive" we all looked at him as he said that.
So bat wala siya sa chapel? Nasa pangangalaga ng mga pulis ang katawan niya. Inoobserbahan at kumukuha ng ibidensya tsaka lead kung sinumang putang ina ang gumawa nun.
It's my turn to talk. "What did Mr. Blanche told you? He's boring face won't be here kung hindi relevant ang dahilan"
He gave me a folder instead of answering me. I browsed through that folder and all i saw was pictures and files connected to Chloerid's killing or case.
Isa isa kong tinignan ang evidences kahit pa ang iba ay nakakadiri talaga and iba pang images that they took from the crime scene. When i lift the fourth picture, natulala ako bigla when i saw the next picture.
😈
[Danskie Montpellier]
Louivee.
I peered at the picture once again. Hindi ba't kinuha ko'to? Or baka may isa pa?
"He told me that majority of the percentage on the pie that my sister's killed because of her dealings to an organization" Thorie said nang napansing natulala ako. I sighed.
"Which organization?" i asked kahit alam ko na kung kanino.
"Your Dad's empire. Ngayon ko lang nalaman na kabilang pala siya sa board ni Sir Drayren" he said.
Biglang sumingit si Lowie sa usapan. "Wait,,, what? Si Principal Chloerid ay ka-alyansa ng masamang ama ni Danskie?"
I ignored what she said. Hindi ako makaka-kontra sa sinabi niya. Masama nga ang ama ko—all the people in Veracruz knew that kaso di nila ito maituturo sa pulis dahil hawak niya ang buong syudad. Kahit pa mga pulis ay kasabwat niya. He also had the connections sa army ng bansa gayundin sa ibang bansa.
Siya at ang pamahalaan ay magkasangga. But i am not aware that Ms. Ludfoe is part of Dad's empire. Part of Dad's mafia.
Nakaka-shock nga ang nalaman ko na yun. But this other's more shocking. These image in this papers a card, written the name 'LOUIVEE'.
Even if it's 'creepy'—based on other's expression— mas nangibabaw ang inis kaysa takot sa'kin.
It is obvious naman na kami ang binabangga ng killer kung sinoman siya. Malakas ang nga tauhan ni Dad kaya malakas ang kutob ko na mahuhuli din mamaya ang may gawa nito.
Pano ko naman nasabing kami ang binabangga nung killer? Easy, kasama sa imperyo ang Ludfoe that is dead. Dad's people are untouchable but may nanghimasok starting a war. Hindi ako bobo para di ma-gets yun.
If we connect this to Louivee, it only means that the killer is studying there at Quando Rondo or a staff kasi remember? He or she is leaving things on my locker with that signature.
"Do you know someone in school whose name's relative to Louivee?" i ushered, still scanning photos. Masama ang kutob ko dito.
This means that those things aren't silly pranks. Sinadya siguro yun— or is tgere something in this case that connects with me.
Natagalan bago sumagot si Thoralid. "Sa natatandaan ko, wala akong kilalang Louivee but there are too many students that their names ay katunog ng name na iyan. Like Louis, Luis, Lowie pwede din yun. Also Juvee, Lovi, Rubi and madami pang iba. If you're thinking that a student in Quando Rondo killed my sister, your presumption is wrong"
"Ano? Do you mean a staff did it?" urgh. I can't imagine na sa dinami dami, isang simpleng tangang estudyanteng akala kong nagkakagusto sa'kin ang naglalagay sa locker ko ng mga teddys ay akala ko lang pala. Ngayon lang ako pumalpak ng hinala sa buong buhay ko.
"Hindi rin"- Thorie
"An outsider"- Jayz
"Definitely"- Thorie
What? Then how could he put those things on my locker if he is an outsider? Ano yun? He sneaks in the school everyday para lang mailagay ang mga yun? Ano naman purpose niya? Mambwisit?!
Bakit ba kasi bawal na'kong magcutting. Kung sana wala ang Decalogue na yun edi sana natimbog ko na yung kriminal!
😈
😈
[Danskie Montpellier]
Hindi pa din maalis ang 'LOUIVEE' sa isip ko. Yes, may isip ako na nagtatalo pa.
What's the connection to Dad's organization too? So it's possible that that outsider is the one who's putting those stuff toys etc etc.
Hindi ko makonek!
Paki-connect nga?
Sorry. No wifi connection.
Parang kami lang ni Thorie ang naririto sa unit niya. Tahimik lang kasi ang tatlong matsing na nakaupo sa sofa.
One little two little three little monkeys..
Tangekss! Kakanta ka na ngalang mali pa! Three little indians kaya yun. Abno.
"Did you eat?" Jayzam asked concerned. Thorie nodded.
Bukas siguro paglalamayan si Chloerid. Certain, Thorie will lack sleep— hindi kakain at hindi PAPASOK NG SCHOOL. Napapahiling tuloy ako. Mamatayan din sana ako. Haha joke.
Hindi ko na pinakinggan ang pag-uusap nila. I gazed at my phone. OMG. As in omg lang ang face ko. The widest smile flashed on my lips. JC messaged me:
JC
After your conference let's meet at Amore Café. :)
Danskie
Wait for me there. BTS.
Sa emoji niyang smiley, his smiling face flashed on my mind. Hay. Ang sarap talaga ma-inlab.
Yes i said inlab. Not because masama na ang tingin ng mundo sa'kin ay hindi rin ako nagmamahal. That thought is very wrong. Kasi kita niyo naman? I love JC more than myself—pero di ko maipakita sa kaniya.
Siyempre diba dapat yung mga girls eh pakipot ng konti. Also, dapat guys always do the first move.
How did we get each other's number? We exchanged numbers ar the rooftop. Precisely at building B-7 rooftop. Few people had my number—i mean the more personal and not my calling card's no—because it's highly confidential. I'm a Montpellier kid that's why. Isee no wrong on giving that number to JC nevertheless.
By the way, ang BTS na acronym spells out Be There Soon and not BangtanBoys.
"Hey, why are you smiling alone? Don't tell me mas mauuna kang mababaliw kaysa kay Thor?" paninita ni Merch. I peered at him.
"Mag-smile ka din kasi. Inggitero" -ako
Thoralid needs rest so we should left early. Tsaka nag-aantay na si JC sa Amore café!
"Uhm, all of you, i need to go. May emergency eh" i bid farewell.
"Okay lang sa'min na lagi kang may emergency basta makakaalis ka na" Jayzam said with a wide smile at his face.
"Oo na eto na aalis na pinagtatabuyan niyo'ko eh"-ako
Tumayo ako at hinarap ang pinto. "Hoy ikaw Thorie maging malakas ka ah! Ayokong mabalitaan bukas na nagpatiwarik ka na! Okay lang naman na may magbigti basta ba si Jayzam"-ako
Kinurot niya'ko ng masakit sa tagiliran. "Aray! Tell me, why are you pinching instead of punching? Bakla ka ba?" -ako
Naasar siya so i better hurry getting out the door. Nasa door na'ko pipihitin ang doorknob nang "Danskie!" Thorie called me.
I turned to him. "Yeah?"
"Be careful and safe. Dapat wala din akong mababalitaan na namatay na Danskie" he pronounced. He smiled, i smile.
"Yes kingpin!!" me before leaving.
I was happy Thoralid smiled despite on what he's going through. Dapat ganun.
😈
😈
[John Carlo Dela Cruz]
"What's this all about, Derric?" i asked Jared, one of my senior agents slash right hand na gumagaes ng lahat ng dapat na trabaho ko sa mafia. "You know I can't meet you in places like this, so this better be good" i added.
"I know master. But this is urgent. I need you to see in person" he said under his disguise.
His disguise looks like these: a sexy chick na malaki ang boobs and booty. Red na red ang lipstick and blonde ang buhok. Maganda din siya na pang miss universe. Maganda rin pala 'to pag babae.
"Then spill it out" i answered. I looked around, keenly studying every person present. Malay ko bang may tauhan ng police o oppenent diyan. Or baka nay nakatingin na chix. Malay nga natin diba?
He leaned forward. "Have you receive the papers i sent about the list of murdered Montpees' platoons, youngmaster?"
I nodded curtly. "Yes. I took a look at it last night and i can say that nasosobrahan ang pagpapatay ninyo. I said don't attack the supreme pero ano 'tong ginawa ninyo? Patay pati si General Roywoods. Now, you're here to tell me the other attacker right? Alam ko namang masunurin kayo masyado so i automatically won't blame it on you" i gave emphasis to the last word.
They should knew it already.
"Not yet boss" he said bowing a little bit.
Pinanlakihan ko siya ng mata na pinantayan ng ulo ko ang mata niya.
"What? Eh ano ang pinunta ko rito?" me trying to be calm. Gusto kong sumigaw kaso pinipigilan ko kasi may napapansin akong tumitingin sa'king mga babae, and also babae na maganda ang kaharap ko ngayon.
Napahilamos ako sa mukha ko. Like, arggghhhhhh!!!!! Sa isip na lang ako sumigaw ng sumigaw. "Then what is it?"
"Na-identify na po si Drayren. That is what i must say" -Jared
Pinakita niya sa'kin ang papeles na naglalaman ng blue print and ID ni Drayren.
I flipped through pages. Nangungunot ang noo.
"The worse is, also those chesspieces in his board were identified too. Kasama ka young master"
Tunay na tunay ang impormasyon niya because the papers were legit. Mismo from the police's department. Lahat ay nandoon. Patay na o buhay pa. Nandun din ang pangalan ng aking ama.
I let out a sigh. "Kilala ko na ang second croc" sambit ko.
Pinukol ko sa kaniya ang mga papel.
"Obviously, the police. Kung may iba mang responsible sa pagpapa—" hindi ko na tinuloy ang sasabihin ko nang may sumagi sa isip ko.
Grabe i'm smart talaga. Ito na nga ang solution!!!
"Young master, the police here is constant" Jared said. Nawala ang ngiti ko.
"Can you let me finish what I am saying first? Hay. Ayus ayusin mo boses mo dapat girly din!"-ako
That does mean there were three of us here. Ako, ang police and unidentified.
I know na maraming kalaban si Drayren but they never can put him down. Hindi nila maoapantayan ang lakas ng imperyo niya. Except ako. Malas niya naisilang ako sa mundo na magdadala sa kaniya sa kaniyang limbo.
I looked at the boy na nakabihis babae. Hindi naman siya bakla pero yun nga ang kaharap ko.
"Then you should update me soon. You know the Dela Cruz rule. If you fail, you're killed. I don't want you to be killed" i sipped my drink. Definitely, a juice. Four seasons.
"Yes, master"
"Another, ready my batallion. Destinate them soon. I have a bad feeling on what will happen next"
He nod. I signaled him "go". Hindi siya as in na nagmukha akong traffic officer but i moved my two fingers, the index and middle, towards the door's direction.
Umalis na nga siya.
Pagkaalis niya, i texted Danskie. Para mapatunayan kong legit 'tong number niyang binigay sa'kin. Kakaiba din sungay nun eh.
Montpellier again.
JC
After your conference let's meet at Amore café. :)
Danskie
Wait for me there. BTS.
Inulit ko ulit basahin ang reply niya. Para kasing may mali. Ahy, walang smiley? Damot sa emoji nun.
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[Danskie Montpellier]
Amore café is the most romantic cafeteria in the entire Veracruz. Is it why i can't control my lips from smiling? And my body slowly dancing?
Napa-swing pa'ko na binuksan ang pinto. Wala. Para lang baliw. Baliw sa'yo!
My eyes scanned the whole area until i saw JC in white sleeves. Napangiti ako. Mapalabas o loob ng bahay, guwapo pa din siya.
For the information, this is my very first date. I mean date na hindi family date, friendly date, basta date. I've never been out with guys like this before. Not to mention my friends, that's actually normal spending in a cafe—or simple bonding— and certainly not a date.
Wait, sino ba nagsabing may date kayo? Sino nagsabing magde-date kayo?
Wala.
Naman pala.
Baka tinamad lang magluto ng dinner kaya sa labas na lang kakain. Ikaw kasi Danskie bakit siya lang nagluluto sa unit NIYO! Eh DALAWA naman kayong nakatira dun! Dapat share kayo ng gawain sa bahay!
Psh. Ano bang malay ko sa pagluluto at paglilinis?!
"Hey" i called him.
"My date arrived. I thought you'll come later" he said turning his back to me. Oo nakatalikod siya, kilala ko na.
The waiter came.
"How is he?" he interrogated after we tell our orders. He may be referring to Thoralid. But i wanna make sure.
"Who is how?" me frowning.
"Thoralid Ludfoe of course" he corresponded.
"He said he's not okay but i see he's fine," sumaglit muna ako, nagdadalawang isip kung sasabihin ko pa ang ibang detalye like 'Louivee' and her involvement on Dad's mafia but i think it's irrelevant for him to know.
"How about the investigation?"- JC. I peered at him as he look into the matter. "Principal Ludfoe deserves justice, right?" he continued.
Ang sarap niyang titigan.
I looked down my plate massaging my forehead. "Ah... The investigation? The authorities were going over it"
He nodded as he sip his iced macchiato.
😈
[JC version]
[John Carlo Dela Cruz]
I was just tapping my fingers on the table. Napapagod na'kong mag-antay.
"Aish! What takes her so long? Nag message naman siya ng 'BE THERE SOON' ah!" bulong ko sa sarili.
"Hey" suddenly i heard her voice. Oh, did she hear that?
I turned my back at her. "My date arrived. I thought you'll come later" i said. Danskie was just smiling. Sweet smile.
Tinawag ko ang waiter and he came. I just ordered shortcake and iced macchiato. Sa kaniya tart, coffee cake and green tea.
The waiter got away so then i looked at her. "How is he?" i asked
Her forhead frowning. "Who is how?"
"Thoralid Ludfoe of course" - me.
"He said he's okay but i see he's fine" she said like a run on. Para kasing may sasabihin pa siya but she decided not to.
I'v decided to ask her what she must say? Or that shall be a wrong move?
"How about the investigation?" i asked. She looked at me like scanning. Gosh! Kinakabahan ako! Baka iniisip niyang may kinalaman na'ko dito! Matalino pa man din si Danskie.
"Principal Ludfoe deserves justice, right?" patuloy ko para di na siya maghinala ng kung ano.
Sa sinabi kong yun i was like sinampal myself.
She then massaged her forehead. Myghad sobrang kaba ko na!
"Ah... The investigation? The authorities were going over it" she answered.
Okay.
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